Provincial Health Officer Issues Order Requiring Health Professionals and Health Care Staff to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19
On October 14, 2021, Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry issued an order requiring health care staff and regulated health professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
These requirements are necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to maintain the public’s confidence that when they receive health care from a health professional, they are not putting their health at risk. Vaccination remains the most effective measure in reducing the risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19.
Correction: October 22, 2021The Office of the Provincial Health Officer has clarified that the mandatory vaccine requirements in the Order of the Provincial Health Officer - Hospital and Community (Health Care and Other Services) COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures do not apply to all regulated pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in community pharmacies. If you are in community-based practice, it is important to review the Order to confirm how it applies to you. While the Order is largely directed at employees of certain organizations, such as health authorities, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in community pharmacies under contract with those organizations may fall under the requirements of the Order.
The Order also gives notice that other regulated health professionals, to be determined by the PHO, and their staff, who are not otherwise required to be vaccinated under this order or the Residential Care COVID-19 Preventive Measures Order, will be required to be vaccinated at a later date, in order to provide health care or services in British Columbia. The College supports and encourages all British Columbians to be vaccinated. We support the vaccine mandate to be extended to include community pharmacies and encourage all pharmacy professionals who are not yet vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. |
Information for Pharmacy Professionals and Students
Beginning on October 26, 2021, all regulated pharmacists and pharmacy technicians employed or under contract to provide health care must be fully vaccinated, have received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, or have an exemption in order to continue to work. Pharmacy and pharmacy technician students who are in care locations for training or research purposes, including within pharmacies, must also be fully vaccinated, have received at least one dose of vaccine or have an exemption by the deadline.
Pharmacy professionals and students who have only received one dose of vaccine by October 26, 2021 may continue to work, but must follow the preventive measures outlined in the order and get their second dose within 28-35 days of receiving their first dose.
Pharmacy professionals and students who are ineligible to work because they have not received one dose of vaccine before October 26, 2021, but have received one dose of vaccine before November 15, must wait 7 days before returning to work and must follow the preventive measures outlined in the Order and get their second dose within 28-35 days of receiving their first dose.
All pharmacy professionals and students hired after October 25, 2021, must be fully vaccinated or have an exemption.
Note: This Order also gives notice that other regulated health professionals, to be determined by the PHO, and their staff, who are not otherwise required to be vaccinated under this order or the Residential Care COVID-19 Preventive Measures Order, will be required to be vaccinated at a later date, in order to provide health care or services in British Columbia.
- View the full order for more details: Order of the Provincial Health Officer – Hospital and Community (Health Care and Other Services) COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures – October 14, 2021.
Information for Pharmacy Managers and Owners
To meet the employer requirements in the Order, a pharmacy manager or owner will need to request and collect proof of vaccination, or an exemption, from pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and must keep a record of the information. The pharmacy manager or owner must disclose information about the vaccination status of their staff included in this Order on both an aggregate and individual level to the Provincial Health Officer or the Medical Health Officer, upon request.
A pharmacy manager or owner must not permit an unvaccinated pharmacist, pharmacy technician or student to work after October 25, 2021, unless they are in compliance with the one-dose deadlines noted above, or they have an exemption and are in compliance with the terms of the exemption.
Requests for Exemptions
Requests for exemptions from the mandatory vaccination rules can only be made for medical deferral of vaccination on the basis that the health of the person would be seriously jeopardized if they followed the order. Guidelines for requesting an exemption, conditions warranting a medical deferral, and a supporting form are available at the following link:
The College supports the PHO’s vaccine requirements for health professionals to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These are important measures needed to help protect British Columbians who continue to be vulnerable to severe illness and death from COVID-19, as well as to preserve the availability of public health services for those who need to access them for other reasons.
We recognize that the vast majority of registrants have already taken the responsibility to help eliminate COVID-19 in our communities by getting vaccinated themselves and diligently following COVID-19 prevention practices.
Order of the Provincial Health OfficerHospital and Community (Health Care and Other Services) COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures – October 14, 2021
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Questions
For questions about COVID-19 or the public health orders please call: 250-952-1891, or visit the website of the Provincial Health Officer.